To understand why star players might want or even feel obligated to take less money than they could get requires understanding the NBA's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its players, which sets out rules regarding the salary cap, luxury tax and how teams go about building their rosters.

Let's break it down, FAQ-style.

Q: In a league in which some owners are making enormous profits, why should stars be taking pay cuts?

That's the question Bryant essentially posed on Twitter after signing his two-year extension, which keeps him as the league's highest-paid player. Philosophically, Bryant isn't wrong. Grantland's Zach Lowe reported last week that the Los Angeles Lakers made a league-high $100 million in profit from basketball operations in 2013-14, making Bryant's contract look like a bargain. But in practice, his salary has little impact on the Lakers' overall payroll this season.

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